Oldham players relishing Everton test

26 February 2013 07:47

Oldham widemen Lee Croft and Jordan Obita are relishing the opportunity of testing themselves against top-class opposition once more.

The duo starred in Latics' 2-2 FA Cup draw against Everton 10 days ago, with Croft laying on Obita's opening goal amid a fervent Boundary Park atmosphere, and they are poised for the chance to impress again at Goodison Park in Tuesday night's fifth-round replay.

"It's nice to go back to a Premier League stadium and play against Premier League teams as we have done this year," Croft told Press Association Sport, having started all four of Oldham's unbeaten outings under caretaker boss Tony Philliskirk.

"It's something I was accustomed to a few years ago so it's nice to pit my wits against them again and know I can still do it."

Croft's tussle with England left-back Leighton Baines was an engaging feature of the first match and he is looking forward to renewing acquaintances.

"In my eyes he'll probably be the England left-back for years to come and it was great to go up against him," he said. "I'm looking forward to doing it again. I'm sure it's going to be hard work, as it was in the first game, but it'll be good."

With the Premier League dream still very much ahead of him, on-loan Obita is keen to retain the form that leaves him without a defeat in three starts for Oldham while also proving a point to his parent club Reading.

"I think I'm showing that I can play well against the top teams," he told Press Association Sport. "Everton are a top-six team in the Premier League. In the last game I thought I did very well against an ex-England international in Phil Neville. I'm not doing it for a top club, I'm doing it for a League One club so I think that can show Reading that I can do it in any team."

Five years ago last month, Oldham enjoyed a memorable third-round triumph at Goodison Park when Gary McDonald scored the only goal. Not shy of confidence, Obita has an eye on entering his own name into Latics' rich cup folklore if the battle to host Wigan in round six goes the distance.

"I'm good at penalties," he added. "I don't really fuss about having to take one. If they want me to take one then I'll take one because it's a big opportunity to make yourself a hero."